(Ecofin Agency) - Hamed Diane Senega (photo), High Commissioner of the Organization for the Development of Senegal River (OMVS), announced last April 12 the construction of a river-sea port, estimated at about €500 million, in Saint-Louis (North-Western part of Senegal).

“This project will include a fishing port, a marina and a trade port. This will be built momentum in Saint-Louis town thanks to the activities that this facility will generate, coming in support of all programs in Senegal but also in other countries that share the river,” he said, speaking during the 6^th session of the Initiatives for the Future of Large Rivers (IAGF) held in Dakar. “This is the most structured project for OMVS," he added.

 According to comments relayed by APS, Mr. Senega also indicated that this future port which will be “one of the most modern in Africa” will help revive the entire river corridor, inject new momentum of exchanges with the valley’s populations and most importantly a trade revitalization. 

 “Il will be a growth driver in the basin of the four countries. Even Guinea that is not really concerned by this project will benefit from it,” the official explained. 

Moreover, he indicated that the Indian government intends to grant a financial support to the project via Exim Bank of India. 

Let’s note that OMVS was created in 1972 to manage the Senegal River’s watershed. It combines the four countries crossed by this river: Guinea, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal. Back in 2016, it was ranked as the best basin organization in the world thanks to the quality of its programs and its model of shared management of water within a framework of solidarity cooperation.